Methi Dal Recipe (Menthi Kura Pappu)

• ½ cupdal (skinned split pigeon peas / toor dal)
• 2 tbspmoong dal — optional
• 1½ cupswater
• 2 cupsmethi leaves (fenugreek leaves) — roughly chopped
• ¾ cuptomato — deseeded, chopped
• 1–2green chili — optional
• ½ tspsalt
• ⅛ tspturmeric
• 1lemon — or small piece of unripe mango or small piece of tamarind or amchur powder

To Temper

• 1½ tbspGhee — or oil
• ½ tspcumin seeds (jeera)
• ¼ tspmustard seeds
• 1 sprigcurry leaves — optional
• 1 pinchhing (asafoetida) — optional
• 2garlic cloves — crushed
• 1dried red chili — broken, optional
• ¼ tspKashmiri red chili powder — dried, powdered, optional
• ¼ tspgaram masala — optional